Four persons, including a surrendered Naxalite, were arrested by the Koraput district police in relation to the murder of a hardcore Maoist militia named Jayaram Pangi (37).
Speaking to The Hindu , Deputy Inspector General of police, south-western range S. Shyani said two more persons, who are surrendered Maoists, are still absconding. Efforts are on to track them down. Jayaram, a resident of Singai village under Machkund police station limits of Koraput district, was shot dead at Jalaput square on April 7.
The four accused are Uddhaba Khilla, Sonu Khilla of Khillaput village of Machkund area of Koraput district, Madan Khilla and Mangu Badanayk from Malkangiri district. Mangu was a surrendered Maoist from Chitrakonda police station area of the Malkangiri district. Due to threats and terrorisation of Maoists, Madan had been displaced from his parental village Newdaliamba under Paparmetla police station of Malkangiri district.
According to Ms. Shyani, the surrendered Maoists had conspired to murder Jayaram. Even after the surrender, they did not feel secure to return to their villages because of Maoist elements like Jayaram who were active in their area and suspected to be passing information to them. So, the surrendered Maoists hatched the plan to eliminate Jayaram. They roped in others like Madan who had faced torture at the hands of Maoists and bore grudge against them.
